The Silvan Elves confine themselves to the northernmost regions of the forest, and Men begin to call it Mirkwood.
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History of Middle Earth
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1050 TA
The fall of Greenwood
Population Migration / Travel
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1980 TA
Durin's Bane
Disaster / DestructionThe Dwarves of the line of Durin delve too deep under the Misty Mountains and awaken an ancient evil. After millennia of prosperity, the vast halls of Khazad-dum, Wonder of the Northern world, are abandoned the following year, its inhabitants driven out by fear and death.
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1999 TA
The Lonely Mountain Born
FoundingThrain I, King of Durin’s folk and distant ancestor of Thorin Oakenshield, comes to the Lonely Mountain and founds a dwarf-kingdom. There, the Dwarves discover their most prized treasure, the Arkenstone, known also as the Heart of the Mountain.
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2063 TA
The Growing Shadow
Population Migration / TravelIn the past centuries, the increase in power of the Necromancer of Dol Guldur has been responsible for the slow but steady diminishing of the inhabitants of the vales of the Great River. In the year 2063, the Wizard Gandalf finally enters the fortress to investigate the matter (songs and legends of the Woodmen have him led through Mirkwood by the young son of a hunter). The shadow over Mirkwood weakens and many folks that were forced to leave return to their lands: the Woodmen multiply and prosper in the following years, establishing settlements both east and west of the Great River.
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2210 TA
The Arkenstone goes North
Population Migration / TravelThorin I, son of Thrain, removes the royal house of Durin’s folk from Erebor to abide in the Grey Mountains. He carries the Arkenstone with him, as part of the royal treasure.
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2460 TA
The Coming of Shadow
Disaster / DestructionMirkwood darkens once again as evil things are called back and creep into the forest. In the following decades, many people choose to leave the region and go south.
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2463 TA
The Forming of the White Council
FoundingAt the request of the Lady Galadriel, a White Council of the Wise and Powerful is formed to unite the forces of the West against the Shadow. Saruman the White, who has long studied the Enemy and his servants, is chosen to lead it. The Elvenking of Northern Mirkwood is invited to join, but refuses.
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2480 TA
From the Depths
Military actionAnswering commands issued from their master in Dol Guldur, the Orcs begin to spread in the dark places beneath the Misty Mountains. From Mount Gundabad in the north to Moria in the south they secretly strengthen every stronghold, barring all the passes into the lands west of the mountains. To respond to the increasing threat from the mountains, the Woodmen of the western river vales raise their burg at Mountain Hall, building upon the foundations of an older fortification.
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2510 TA
The first of the Ridermark
FoundingFollowing a great battle, Eorl the Young, lord of the Horsefolk of the north, leads his people from the upper vales of the river Anduin to live as free Men in the plains of Calenardhon, far in the distant south. He becomes the first King of the Mark of the Riders.
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2570 TA
Fire and Fury
Military actionLate in the year, a plague of Dragons descends from the Great Wastes and begins to afflict the Dwarven mansions in the Grey Mountains. The Dwarves face a long and terrible war.
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2590 TA
The Northern Kingdom
Population Migration / TravelThe Arkenstone is brought back to its place in the Great Hall of Thrain, and with it returns a great part of Durin’s folk. They mine and tunnel the roots of the Mountain, enlarging the subterranean kingdom building huge halls and greater workshops. Another group of Dwarves is led eastward where they eventually settle in the Iron Hills. About this time, several clans of Northmen living along the River Running move north to be closer to the Lonely Mountain. They befriend the Dwarven colony of Erebor, attracted by the opportunities offered by the brisk trade with the Iron Hills. The city of Dale prospers, and the following hundred years see it become the capital of a strong kingdom extending far and wide to the East and South.
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2740 TA
Orc Raiders
Military actionDismayed by the increasing forces of both Dwarves and Men of the North, many Orcs resort to raiding the regions west of the Misty Mountains. This threat comes mainly from their stronghold of Mount Gram.
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2758 TA
The Long Winter
Disaster / DestructionBetween the end of 2758 and the first months of 2759, stiff, relentless winds hit the North, covering the lands with snow and ice. The Long Winter has come, and King Bladorthin dies before he sees the end of it. He is succeeded by his young son Girion, who drives his enemies back to the eastern frontiers of the realm. For five months, the Long Winter causes great suffering and inflicts grievous losses on many peoples. Gandalf the Grey himself intervenes, coming to the aid of the Shirefolk.
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2770 TA
Smaug the Great and Terrible
Disaster / DestructionOne night, Smaug the Dragon descends on the Lonely Mountain spouting flames. The Dwarves are caught by surprise and Erebor is sacked, its inhabitants slain. Warriors from Dale are destroyed too, and Girion their lord is killed. Thror, the King Under The Mountain, escapes the slaughter by secret means with his son Thrain. They are joined in exile by Thorin, the young son of Thrain. The Dragon claims the underground halls of Erebor as his lair, and its treasure becomes his hoard. From the Mountain, Smaug starts preying upon the neighbouring lands, killing people and livestock and reducing the surrounding area to a wasteland. Some time later, Dale is deserted and slowly crumbles to ruins.
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2790 TA
Azog the Defiler
Life, DeathThror, Dwarven King in exile, is captured and slain in Moria by the Great Orc Azog. Preparing a war of vengeance, his son Thrain calls for a great muster of Dwarves.
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2793 TA
2799 TA
The War of the Dwarves and Orcs
Military actionThe Dwarves of Durin’s Folk, strengthened by great forces sent from the Houses of the other Fathers of the Dwarves, begin a long and cruel war against the Orcs of the Misty Mountains.
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2799 TA
Azog Defeated
Life, DeathThe final battle of the War of the Dwarves and Orcs is fought before the East-gate of Moria. The Dwarves are victorious, and a very young Dain Ironfoot distinguishes himself by killing Azog singlehandedly. But victory has a bitter taste: the war has greatly reduced the number of Orcs still dwelling in the mountains, but at the cost of a frightful number of lives. After the battle, the various Houses part ways without attempting to reclaim Moria, and the Dwarves are dispersed again to the four winds: Dain Ironfoot returns to the Iron Hills. Thrain and his son Thorin wander westwards, to eventually settle in the Blue Mountains to the northwest.
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2841 TA
Thrain II, Captured
Metaphysical / Paranormal eventA lust for gold slowly takes possession of Thrain. He resolves to return to Erebor and convinces Balin and Dwalin and a few others to leave the Blue Mountains with him. Their wanderings bring them again beyond the Misty Mountains, until on a dark night Thrain disappears in Mirkwood.
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2890 TA
Bilbo Baggins
Life, BirthBilbo Baggins of Bag End is born in the Shire, son of Bungo Baggins and Belladonna Took.
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2900 TA
The Brown Wizard
Population Migration / TravelDespite the dangers of Wilderland, many bold men and women make their way back into the vales of the Great River from the South. They are welcomed by Radagast the Brown to ‘live in amongst the more pleasant woods in the valleys and along the river-shores’.
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2911 TA
The Fell Winter
Disaster / DestructionAn extremely fierce and long cold season begins in November. Remembered as the Fell Winter, its frozen grip doesn’t release the regions of the North from snow and ice for five months. Rivers and lakes are frozen over, and white wolves descend from the frozen wastes of the far North. When the frigid winds finally relent in March of the following year, rivers overflow with the melting of the snow and many lands are flooded as a result. It is about this time that the Long Marshes spread extensively, extending from the Old Forest Road to the Forest River.
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2941 TA
Thorin's Quest / Smaug Defeated
ExpeditionThe Wizard Gandalf, Thorin Oakenshield and thirteen Dwarven companions visit Bilbo the Hobbit in the Shire: they set upon a quest to recover the treasure of Durin’s Folk and free the North from the threat of the Dragon of Erebor. A series of unlikely events lead to the death of Smaug and to the destruction of Lake-town. D in of the Iron Hills becomes King of the restored Kingdom under the Mountain, while Dwarves, Men and Elves collaborate in rebuilding new cities in Dale and upon the Long Lake.
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2942 TA
Bilbo Returns Home
ExpeditionBilbo returns to his peaceful life in the Shire. He carries the One Ring with him, not suspecting its true nature. News of the great events that have come to pass spread across the land as he travels home.
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2943 TA
Dragon-Sickness
Criminal ActivityThe Master of Lake-town falls victim of the Dragon-sickness and leaves, carrying with him most of the gold given to him by Bard for the help of the Lake-people. Initially helped by some companions, he is then abandoned and dies of starvation in the Waste.
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2944 TA
Something Stirs Beneath The Forest
Life, MilestoneThe creature Gollum leaves his lair under the Mountains and begins his search for the thief of the Ring. Some time later, he enters Mirkwood, to eventually reach Esgaroth and even the streets of Dale. For a while he is watched closely by the Wood-elves.
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2944 TA
The Birth of a New Kingdom
Construction beginning/endBard completes the reconstruction of Dale and is crowned King. A new Lake-town is completed on the Long Lake and trade resumes up and down the Running River. Beorn establishes his rule as a great chief at the head of his new followers, soon to be known as the Beornings.
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2946 TA
The Gathering of the Five Armies
Cultural eventIn the last days of November, on the fifth anniversary of the eponymous battle, a great feast celebrating the victory at the Battle of Five Armies is held in Dale for the first time. People from all neighbouring lands are expected to participate in the revels, as the feast has been arranged to coincide with local celebrations held for the end of the harvest season and the beginning of the colder months of the year.